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  • Week.day clocks it with Aidonia’s Like How Yuh Feel

    Week.day clocks it with Aidonia’s Like How Yuh Feel

    Rising Jamaican dancehall producer Jahvanie “Week.day” Morrison is celebrating a breakthrough career milestone, as his collaborative track with iconic dancehall artist Aidonia, *Like How Yuh Feel*, continues to dominate streaming platforms and regional music charts across the Caribbean and global dancehall spaces.

    Dropped to digital streaming platforms on May 22, the high-energy collaboration has already racked up more than 1 million combined streams across all major music services, while earning coveted top positions on Apple Music’s regional rankings. The track claimed the number one spot in five Caribbean nations: the Cayman Islands, British Virgin Islands, Grenada, St Kitts, and St Lucia. It also climbed to second place in Antigua, Anguilla, Trinidad and Tobago, and Barbados, and secured a spot at number 12 on Jamaica’s influential Kingston Top 20 chart, a clear sign of its strong resonance with core dancehall audiences in the genre’s birthplace.

    For the young producer, this widespread success comes after years of nurturing a creative partnership with Aidonia, marking the first official public release from the many unreleased projects the pair have crafted together over time.

    “This isn’t my first time collaborating with Aidonia, but it’s the first one we’ve actually put out to the public,” Week.day shared in a recent interview. The producer explained that their working relationship grew organically through overlapping industry connections, particularly through Aidonia’s longstanding partnership with dancehall artist 450. “We kept running into each other at concerts and festivals all over the region, that’s how it all started before we eventually linked up in the studio to work,” he added.

    The collaborative process for *Like How Yuh Feel* was defined by natural creative chemistry and positive energy from start to finish, according to Week.day. After he crafted the song’s signature rhythm, he sent the draft to Aidonia, who quickly shared his conceptual vision for the track. “Working with Aidonia is nothing but good vibes – he’s got such incredible positive energy, and his work ethic is unmatched,” Week.day said. “I built the rhythm, sent it over, and he walked me through his whole idea for the track when we met up at a festival one day. After that, we put in work on the mixing, arrangement, and everything else leading up to the release.”

    As the track continues to gain new traction weeks after its launch, the producer says he remains grateful for the overwhelming warm reception from dancehall fans across the region. “It’s such an amazing feeling to put out music that connects with fans the way this one has,” he said. “Waking up to see it sitting at number one in so many different countries is a feeling I can’t really describe.”

    Looking back on his journey to this breakthrough, Week.day credits consistent creation and intentional patience as the core principles of his approach to production. “My formula is simple: keep creating even when you don’t feel inspired, keep showing up to work, let your real emotions flow into the music, and always be willing to wait for the right moment,” he explained.

    Instead of slowing down after this major win, Week.day is already leaning into the momentum to roll out a slate of new upcoming projects. His next major production project, the *Super Glue* rhythm compilation, already features collaborations with popular rising dancehall acts 450 and Silk Boss, with more big-name artists set to be announced in the coming weeks. He also teased an upcoming collaborative single from emerging artist Jamarii featuring 450, which he says will be a career-defining moment for the young newcomer.

  • Leading Cuba dissident denounces ‘violence’ during detention

    Leading Cuba dissident denounces ‘violence’ during detention

    HAVANA, Cuba – As Cuba grapples with its most severe economic downturn in modern history, a prominent opposition activist has emerged as the focal point of escalating tensions between government security forces and pro-democracy organizers, ahead of the fifth anniversary of the island nation’s largest post-revolutionary public uprising.

    Manuel Cuesta Morua, who leads the Council for the Democratic Transition in Cuba (CDTC), a group pushing for democratic governance reforms, confirmed to international reporters that he was held by state security agents for multiple hours Saturday. In an interview, he said the incident marked the first time he faced “substantial violence” at the hands of authorities in several years, a shift he linked to growing anxiety within the government over potential new unrest.

    Cuba’s current economic crisis has been deepened by two major external pressures: a five-month-old United States oil embargo and a broad suite of US economic sanctions that have prompted most foreign investors to exit the country. The fallout has been acute for ordinary Cubans, who now face widespread shortages of basic necessities including fuel, food potable water and prescription medication. Skyrocketing inflation has pushed consumer prices to unaffordable levels for many households, while extended power outages – some lasting as long as 40 hours in some regions – have amplified public frustration with the communist-led government.

    Unlike many of his previous detentions that took place at official police facilities, Cuesta Morua was taken to an isolated, undeveloped area outside Havana, according to a statement from the CDTC. The organization said the activist was subjected to death threats and deliberate physical attacks during his detainment, with the entire encounter marked by what observers describe as unusual nervousness from the security agents involved. He was specifically accused of organizing and encouraging citizens to join public demonstrations on July 11, the anniversary of the 2021 anti-government protests that shook the Cuban administration.

    The 2021 protests were an unprecedented moment of mass public discontent in the decades following Fidel Castro’s 1959 revolution, sparked by widespread anger over the collapsing economy and widespread scarcity. The government’s crackdown on the uprising left one protester dead, dozens injured, and hundreds of activists and participants arrested. While authorities have released a number of political detainees over the past year amid ongoing US diplomatic pressure, dozens more remain imprisoned on politically motivated charges.

    In recent months, small scattered acts of public dissent have already begun to emerge across the island. With fuel shortages leaving garbage trucks unable to collect waste, many neighborhoods have seen uncollected trash pile up, and residents have held informal nighttime protests where they bang pots in protest or set fire to accumulated waste.

    Against this backdrop of rising tension, the Cuban government has moved to implement sweeping policy changes aimed at pulling the country out of crisis and easing international pressure. On Thursday, Cuban lawmakers approved a broad package of free-market reforms designed to expand the role of the private sector and incentivize foreign investors to return to the island. The reforms mark a significant shift in the country’s economic model, as the administration seeks to address the systemic gaps that have fueled public anger in recent years. Still, security forces remain on high alert, bracing for potential mass unrest on the protest anniversary amid widespread public anger over ongoing hardship.

  • Absent fathers fuelling juvenile crime, warns correctional chaplain

    Absent fathers fuelling juvenile crime, warns correctional chaplain

    Ahead of the global observance of Father’s Day on June 21, a senior Jamaican correctional services chaplain is sounding a urgent call to action for Jamaican men to embrace active, consistent parental roles, after first-hand conversations with incarcerated juveniles revealed a stark connection between absent fathers and youth offending.

    Reverend Dwayne Nelson, who serves as chaplain for Jamaica’s Department of Correctional Services, shared that nearly 30 percent of the young people he counselled at youth correctional facilities across the island openly linked their incarceration and behavioural struggles to growing up without a present father. His on-the-ground findings align with established regional and international research that confirms children growing up fatherless are 11 times more likely to engage in criminal activity than their peers with involved fathers.

    Over the course of his work, Reverend Nelson has held confidential counselling sessions with around 69 young people aged 13 to 17 held in Jamaican youth correctional institutions. In almost every discussion about the root of their harmful choices and life struggles, the absence of a positive male paternal figure emerged as a core contributing factor.

    “When we talk about their families, they will freely mention their mothers, but when I ask about their fathers, the responses are almost always the same: ‘I don’t have a father,’ ‘My dad isn’t around,’ or ‘He never did what he was supposed to do for me,’” Reverend Nelson explained in an interview with the Jamaica Observer. “One young inmate put it plainly: if his father had been present in his life, he would never have ended up locked up in this place.”

    Many youth living solely with their mothers told the chaplain they committed offences specifically because the father’s financial and emotional void left the family struggling, pushing them to turn to criminal activity to provide for their moms and younger siblings. For boys, without a father to model healthy masculinity and set boundaries, many fell prey to outside negative influences that normalized crime and violence. For girls, the impact follows a different but equally damaging pattern: many said the lack of a father’s love and validation led them to seek approval from older men, often drawing them into harmful relationships and dangerous social circles that led to legal trouble.

    Reverend Nelson emphasized that while countless single mothers work tirelessly to raise their children alone, a mother cannot fully replace the unique role a father plays in a child’s life. He argued that forcing women to take on both parental roles often stretches them too thin, undermining their ability to deliver both the nurturing care they naturally provide and the structured guidance that a father typically brings.

    Beyond calling on biological fathers to show up more consistently for their children, Reverend Nelson is also urging all Jamaican men of strong character and positive values — whether they are fathers themselves or not — to step into mentorship roles for fatherless young people. He notes that vulnerable youth are actively craving male guidance, and consistently respond with openness and gratitude to any man willing to invest time in them.

    “These young people are desperate for a father figure, so they almost never push away positive male attention. They want to hear from men, they long for that guidance,” he told the Sunday Observer. “You can help them channel their pain from abandonment into a drive to build a better life, so that when they have their own children one day, they can be the involved parent they never had. Even when they don’t say it out loud, their actions show how much they appreciate the support: they’ll seek you out to talk, ask for prayer, or want to spend time together. There is still so much hope for these kids.”

    Quoting iconic American evangelist Billy Graham, Reverend Nelson closed by reinforcing the underrecognized value of fathers across society. “A good father is unsung, rarely praised, and often goes unnoticed, but he is one of the most valuable assets any community can have,” he said. “We often give mothers far more visibility and appreciation for their daily work, but fathers play an irreplaceable role in shaping safer, stronger societies. Following the biblical teaching that if you train a child in the right way, they will never stray from it when they grow old, a father’s involvement is one of the most powerful tools we have to deter children from crime and help them unlock their full potential. I urge every father to show up for your kids — your involvement can change not just your child’s life, but transform our entire society for the better.”

  • Nayoka Clunis wins sixth hammer throw national title

    Nayoka Clunis wins sixth hammer throw national title

    KINGSTON, Jamaica — In a display of dominant athletic prowess at the National Stadium on Sunday, Nayoka Clunis cemented her status as Jamaica’s undisputed queen of women’s hammer throw by capturing her sixth national championship crown at the annual JAAA National Championships. Clunis, a veteran who has twice represented Jamaica at the World Athletics Championships, delivered a winning throw of 68.93 meters to outpace all competitors and wrap up the top spot on the podium. The star thrower’s performance was nothing short of consistent: five of her six attempts landed beyond the 65.00-meter mark, a benchmark that far outstripped the work of her fellow competitors and highlighted her long-standing dominance in the national scene. Clunis has been in exceptional form throughout 2024, setting a new Jamaican national record of 72.03 meters during a competition in mid-April. That record-breaking throw has already pushed her to fourth place in the Commonwealth rankings, positioning her as one of the region’s top contenders for future international competitions. Behind Clunis, the battle for the remaining podium spots was clear: Britannia Johnson, a competitor representing Purdue University, took home the silver medal with a best throw of 52.70 meters, while Fabrienne Foster of the University of North Texas claimed bronze with a top mark of 48.00 meters. The result extends Clunis’ unprecedented run of success at the national level, and sets the stage for her to compete for more international honors in the coming athletic season.

  • A world of memories

    A world of memories

    For millions of sports fans around the world, major international tournaments like the FIFA World Cup and Olympic Games are defined by the thrill of victory, the agony of defeat, and the unforgettable action unfolding on the pitch or track. For Christopher Williams, a Jamaican business leader and former collegiate footballer, these events have always meant something far deeper: they are the foundation of a deliberate, 15-year family tradition built to heal past wounds and forge unbreakable bonds with his two sons, Zachary and Justin-Paul.

    Raised in humble circumstances without the close, affectionate father-son connection he craved as a child, Williams, chairman and CEO of Different Properties Jamaica Limited and former head of Professional Football Jamaica Limited, made a promise to his own children early on: he would give them the intentional quality time and secure bond he never got to experience growing up. A lifelong lover of football, sports, and his home country Jamaica, Williams turned his long-held passion into the perfect vessel for this promise.

    Fifteen years ago, Christopher and his wife Michelle made a deliberate choice to forgo accumulating material gifts for their boys, and instead opened a dedicated vacation savings account earmarked entirely for shared family experiences: opportunities to travel, laugh, learn, and celebrate together, one major sports event at a time. What started as a small, intentional plan has grown into a cross-continental adventure that has reshaped their family dynamic. To date, the Williams family has attended three FIFA World Cups – Brazil 2014, Qatar 2022, and the ongoing 2026 tournament hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico – alongside the Olympic Games, domestic Jamaican Premier League matches, and the 2023 UEFA Champions League final held in Istanbul.

    Looking back on the 15-year journey, Christopher notes the quiet, moving transformation that has unfolded. When the tradition first began, his sons were small children entirely dependent on Christopher and Michelle to plan every detail of their trips, from transportation to accommodation. Today, the roles have shifted: it is Zachary and Justin-Paul who map out itineraries, book rides and hotels, and care for their parents throughout the journey. “It has been really moving for me as a father to watch them get to this level and be in charge of our experiential trips,” Williams shared in an interview with the *Sunday Observer*.

    One beloved ritual has become synonymous with the Williams family’s adventures: the Jamaican flag never gets left behind. No matter if they are heading to a Champions League final or a World Cup opener, the iconic black, green, and gold standard is always the last item checked before they leave for the airport. “The last thing we say to each other before we leave for the airport is, ‘Yo, you pack the flag?’ ” Christopher said with a laugh.

    This small tradition has led to countless unexpected, warm encounters with sports fans from around the world. During the 2026 World Cup’s opening match between hosts Mexico and South Africa at Mexico City’s legendary Estadio Azteca, Zachary and Christopher’s visible Jamaican flag drew crowds of spectators eager to say hello and snap photos. A 15-minute walk around the stadium took nearly twice as long, as the pair stopped again and again to greet new people. “It was maybe a 15-minute walk, and it took us about half an hour because of how many times we had to stop and take pictures,” 19-year-old Zachary recalled. “It was literally insane.”

    For Christopher, attending that opening match at Azteca Stadium carried a personal, emotional weight that went far beyond the final score. He deliberately chose to attend the match because of the stadium’s iconic place in football history: it was here that Diego Maradona, his childhood hero, led Argentina to World Cup victory in 1986. Forty years after that legendary final, standing on the same ground he had only read and dreamed about as a boy, Williams called the moment overwhelming. “Growing up, I dreamt of that Diego Maradona final in 1986 in Azteca when Maradona won the World Cup, and to know that 40 years later in the World Cup we were in that stadium, tears come to your eyes,” he said. “As you’re walking, you’re looking at the pitch, you’re looking at the sun, and you’re just wondering what it was like 40 years ago when Diego won the World Cup, so it was very emotional for me.”

    Each member of the Williams family holds their own treasured memory from the 15 years of adventures. Justin-Paul, 28, who was unable to attend the 2026 Mexico trip, counts the 2012 London Olympics as his most unforgettable experience, when Jamaica made history by sweeping the men’s 100m podium, led by sprint legend Usain Bolt. The entire family showed up decked out in Puma gear, the brand that sponsored Jamaica’s track team, leading event officials to mistake them for official team members. The happy mistake got them access to the field and a prime spot in the reporters’ booth to watch the historic race. “I remember how electric the stadium was before the men’s 100-metre final. Everybody was scrambling to get a good view. Then all that excitement went by in nine seconds. It was unbelievable,” he said.

    For Zachary, who was born in 2006 – itself a World Cup year – the most memorable experience was an exhibition El Clásico match held in Miami, featuring some of the greatest footballers of a generation: Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema of Real Madrid, and Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez, and Neymar for Barcelona. “I remember almost every second of that game. Hearing the Real Madrid supporters singing before the match and seeing the players warming up right in front of me was surreal. The whole second half I stood on my chair. It was such a good experience,” he said.

    Beyond creating shared memories, the family’s shared love of football has also sparked lighthearted, loving rivalry around the house. A lifelong diehard Manchester United fan, Christopher constantly teases Zachary over his support for rivals Manchester City. The friendly competition also extends to the pitch: Christopher and Zachary play frequent weekend matches, with the elder Williams still eager to prove he has not lost his touch. “Before I retired as a top baller, of course, I would buss up his salad every weekend,” Christopher joked, prompting Zachary to quickly interject “Not every weekend,” drawing peals of laughter from the whole family.

    For all the iconic stadiums he has visited and historic moments he has witnessed, Christopher says fatherhood remains his greatest and most important life achievement. “It’s the last thing I think about at night and the first thing I think about in the morning, how my kids are doing mentally, whether they’re happy, and whether they feel they have a shot at building themselves in life. I don’t want to show them love through presents. I want to show them through my presence and by being there for them as much as possible,” he said.

    That consistent, intentional presence has left a permanent mark on his sons. Zachary spoke openly about the impact of his father’s choice to prioritize shared experiences over work or material gain. “I would just like to tell my dad thank you again for making it such a priority in his life and making the sacrifices necessary. I’m sure it wasn’t easy, but it’s life-changing for me and my brother to be able to have these experiences. I love you, and I appreciate the sacrifices you’ve made,” he said.

    Justin-Paul, who works alongside his father in the real estate industry, added that Christopher has not only been a father but a mentor, peer, and friend, creating a new model of intentional fatherhood that he and Zachary will carry forward to their own families one day. Because Christopher grew up without a positive fatherhood blueprint to follow, he built one from scratch for his sons. “When my brother and I have children we’ll have a blueprint, because he is the blueprint. It is great to have been raised by a king,” Justin-Paul said.

    As Jamaica prepares to celebrate Father’s Day on June 21, Christopher says he hopes his family’s story will serve as a reminder for Jamaican fathers across the island that intentional, positive fatherhood is a powerful, lasting gift. “We just want Jamaica and everybody to know that we are present. We’re not going away. We’re staying in our children’s lives, giving them guidance, encouragement, support, and love,” the father of two said.

  • Belgium held 0-0 by Iran as Ngoy sent off

    Belgium held 0-0 by Iran as Ngoy sent off

    LOS ANGELES, U.S. (AFP) – The 2026 FIFA World Cup Group G clash between Belgium and Iran delivered a tense, resultless stalemate on Sunday, leaving the once top-ranked Belgian side on the brink of a second consecutive early tournament exit after being reduced to 10 players for the final stretch of the match.

    Loaded with global star power but hampered by an ageing core that includes midfield maestro Kevin De Bruyne and target forward Romelu Lukaku, Belgium was ultimately lucky to escape the Southern California stadium with a single point. The Red Devils dominated possession for most of 90 minutes but failed to turn that control into dangerous scoring chances, instead ceding all the match’s clearest opportunities to a defensively resolute Iran side.

    Iran’s star striker Mehdi Taremi thought he had opened the scoring in the first half off a well-orchestrated set piece, but the goal was quickly overturned by VAR for offside. The turning point came in the second half, when young Belgian center-back Nathan Ngoy sent a woefully misplayed backpass toward keeper Thibaut Courtois, leaving Taremi free to race in on goal. Ngoy dragged the striker down to prevent a clear scoring opportunity, earning an immediate red card that left Belgium down a man for the rest of the encounter.

    The scoreless result means all three Group G matches played to date have ended in draws, leaving the table tightly congested. Belgium sits with two points through two matches, entering its final group stage fixture against tournament lowest-ranked side New Zealand, a match that gives the Red Devils a narrow path to advance to the knockout round.

    Iran also needs at least one point from its final match against Egypt next Friday in Seattle to secure progression. The side faced significant off-field disruptions leading up to the Los Angeles clash, with persistent visa issues slowing travel from its base camp in Mexico to match venues in the United States. Reports indicate those travel restrictions have now been eased, allowing Team Melli to focus fully on preparation for its decisive final group game.

    For the second consecutive Iran match in this World Cup, protesters from Los Angeles’ large Persian exile community gathered outside the stadium to demonstrate against Iran’s hardline ruling government. Inside the venue, the playing of Iran’s national anthem was met with loud boos and whistles, a stark contrast to the warm reception the Iranian players themselves received from the crowd, who cheered loudly for the team throughout the match.

    Iran set up in a five-man defensive formation to start the game, dropping deep into its own half and ceding territorial control to Belgium. That defensive shape let the Red Devils complete hundreds of passes around Iran’s 18-yard box, but Belgium could not break through to create any high-quality chances. Lukaku, returned to the starting lineup after a strong substitute performance in Belgium’s opening 1-1 draw with Egypt, managed only one shot effort all half: a 36th-minute header that sailed well over the crossbar.

    Against the run of play, Iran claimed the two best scoring opportunities of the opening 45 minutes. First, defender Hossein Kanani fired a low shot on goal after a long throw-in, forcing a sharp save from a fully stretched Courtois. Then Taremi capitalized on a cleverly worked free-kick routine to slot the ball into the back of the net, but the VAR review wiped out the goal to the disappointment of the heavily pro-Iran crowd inside the stadium. The former Inter Milan striker had escaped Belgium’s defensive wall, spun into open space and finished cleanly before the offside call was made.

    After halftime, Belgium continued to press without creating consistent danger, while Taremi nearly found the breakthrough once again. After Kanani flicked on another long throw to the striker, Courtois came up big with another critical save to keep the game scoreless.

    Around the 60-minute mark, Belgian head coach Rudi Garcia made three attacking substitutions to spark his stagnant offense, and the move almost paid off immediately. Maxim De Cuyper got on the end of a cutback from De Bruyne for a point-blank effort, but Iran’s keeper turned the shot away. Just moments later, substitute Hans Vanaken blasted a rebound well over the crossbar, as the Red Devils finally began to generate consistent dangerous pressure in Iran’s final third.

    That momentum shift was derailed by Ngoy’s red card, after his underhit backpass put Taremi clean through on goal. Following the sending off, the match settled into a scrappy, nervous stalemate, though De Cuyper came close to a late winner with a low shot from just outside the penalty area that went just wide.

    With both teams still in the hunt for a knockout round spot, the final group stage matches next week will deliver high-stakes action for all four Group G contenders.

  • SPANISH INQUISITION

    SPANISH INQUISITION

    ATLANTA, GA — In the lead-up to the opening Group H World Cup clash at Atlanta’s cutting-edge Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the face of 18-year-old Lamine Yamal is impossible to miss. Towering billboards featuring the teenage Barcelona winger line the city’s skyscrapers, a clear signal of just how much hype surrounds the young star — and that hype just became necessity for the reigning European champions, who now find themselves pinning their World Cup hopes on his precocious talent. Pre-tournament title favorites Spain stumbled badly out of the gate in their first match, grinding to a lifeless 0-0 draw with World Cup debutants Cape Verde, a result that has sparked widespread questions about the squad’s ability to deliver on their pre-tournament promise.

    Yamal, who missed nearly two months of action with a nagging hamstring injury and was only just returning to full match fitness, was held in reserve by head coach Luis de la Fuente until the final 25 minutes of the clash. Even in that limited playing time, and despite failing to break the deadlock, his introduction immediately shifted the dynamic of the match. For the 68,000 fans packed into the stadium, most of whom had turned out to catch a glimpse of one of the game’s brightest young stars, Yamal’s arrival finally gave the crowd something to cheer for. Spain’s slow, methodical passing attack, which had struggled to create any clear chances against a compact Cape Verde defense, finally gained a cutting edge: Yamal’s ability to run at defenders stretched the opposition’s backline and opened up space for his teammates.

    “Lamine is undoubtedly a special player,” said Spanish midfielder Mikel Merino after the final whistle. “He has great ability to beat his man and disrupt the opposition’s defensive shape. Given Lamine’s quality, he can influence any game at any moment.”

    Yamal catapulted to global stardom just two years ago, when he turned in a series of stunning performances as a 16-year-old to help Spain claim the Euro 2024 title. Alongside Nico Williams, the explosive winger on the opposite flank, Yamal formed one of the most dangerous attacking duels in international football, blending blistering speed, close control, and consistent goal threat that tore through opposition defenses at the Euros. But like Yamal, Williams has also battled injury issues this season, and he only saw action in the final minutes of stoppage time against Cape Verde.

    Without both wingers’ elite one-on-one ability to unlock packed defenses, Spain slipped back into the familiar pattern of World Cup underperformance that has plagued the side since they lifted their only World Cup trophy in 2010. In the 16 years since that triumph, La Roja have won just three of their 12 World Cup matches, with a recurring tendency to dominate possession without turning that control into goals. Against Cape Verde, ranked 67th in the FIFA world rankings, that trend held: Spain controlled the ball for most of the 90 minutes but failed to register a single goal, echoing their toothless displays against Japan and Morocco at the 2022 World Cup, where they accumulated over 2,500 passes before finally finding the back of the net.

    “Lamine showed exactly what he’s capable of the moment he stepped onto the pitch,” de la Fuente told reporters after the match. “He forced the opposition to change their approach, but that was the amount of playing time we felt was right for him given his recent injury.”

    The Spain manager has urged fans and pundits alike not to panic following the opening draw, pointing to the side’s impressive 32-game unbeaten streak in competitive matches that stretches back more than three years. Yamal echoed that calm tone in a post-match social media post, writing, “Don’t have any doubt. We know this is a long competition and the objective is still far off. We will keep working and everything will work out how we want.”

    The expanded 48-team format of this World Cup does give title contenders room to build momentum gradually, and a single win in their remaining two group stage matches against Saudi Arabia and Uruguay would almost certainly be enough to book Spain a spot in the knockout rounds. But the opening clash has made one thing unavoidable: Yamal is central to Spain’s dream of lifting a second World Cup trophy, a reality that has put unexpected pressure on de la Fuente to start the teenager against Saudi Arabia in Atlanta on Sunday — potentially earlier than the manager planned when the tournament began.

    Just days before the tournament kicked off, de la Fuente boasted that his squad’s depth made it the strongest contender in the competition. But after the underwhelming opening draw, La Roja now look heavily reliant on their teenage superstar — and on him staying fit through the grueling, expanded schedule of the weeks ahead.

  • ‘Toy Story 5’ rakes in $160 mn in year’s best opening weekend

    ‘Toy Story 5’ rakes in $160 mn in year’s best opening weekend

    LOS ANGELES, Calif. – A decades-beloved animated franchise has claimed a new box office milestone, as Disney and Pixar’s *Toy Story 5* stormed to the strongest opening weekend of any 2025 release, pulling in an estimated $160 million across North American theaters, industry data released Sunday confirms. The latest installment in the iconic toy-centered series also set a new opening record for the entire *Toy Story* franchise, outperforming all prior entries to land at the top of the weekend box office charts.

    Opening exclusively over the Father’s Day holiday frame, *Toy Story 5* brings back franchise favorites Woody the cowboy, Buzz Lightyear, and their ragtag group of plaything friends for a new adventure that centers on their fight to stay relevant amid rising competition from modern digital technology – most notably a new touchscreen tablet that steals the spotlight from traditional toys. The film once again taps A-list voice talent, with Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, and Joan Cusack all reprising their iconic roles for the sequel, and rolled out across 4,425 screens throughout the United States and Canada for its debut weekend, per estimates from industry tracking firm Exhibitor Relations.

    Industry analysts say the blockbuster opening underscores the ongoing strength of family-focused theatrical entertainment in the post-pandemic film landscape. “This is prime family moviegoing season, and *Toy Story* delivers exactly what audiences are looking for,” said David A. Gross, a leading entertainment industry analyst. Gross labeled the release “another sensational opening for a Pixar series sequel,” noting that the 2025 installment’s opening haul is roughly 37 percent higher than the debut of *Toy Story 4* a decade prior. If estimates hold, the opening will rank as the second-largest debut for an animated feature in film history, falling only behind 2018’s *Incredibles 2* – another Pixar release produced under the Disney umbrella – which opened to $182.7 million.

    Gross added that family-oriented content has led the global film industry’s steady recovery from pandemic-era theater closures since ticket sales rebounded sharply in 2023. Much of the genre’s ongoing success, he noted, stems from established IP: franchise sequels, live-action remakes of classic animated films, and hybrid projects that blend original storytelling with recognizable fan-favorite characters.

    Rounding out the top five on the weekend box office charts behind the record-breaking *Toy Story 5* were a mix of holdover hits and recent releases. Taking second place was Universal Pictures’ sci-fi thriller *Disclosure Day*, directed by Steven Spielberg, which debuted the prior weekend. Led by stars Emily Blunt and Josh O’Connor, the high-stakes film follows a team of investigators working to expose a decades-long government cover-up of extraterrestrial contact. It added an estimated $17 million in ticket sales this weekend, pushing its total domestic haul to $78.2 million after two weeks in theaters.

    Third place went to Focus Features’ surprise indie horror breakout *Obsession*, which added $14 million in its sixth week of release to bring its cumulative domestic total to $215.8 million. A24’s horror hit *Backrooms* held steady in fourth place with $7.3 million in ticket sales, raising its four-week domestic total to $175 million. Rounding out the top five was Paramount’s reboot of the parody franchise *Scary Movie*, which earned $6.7 million in its third week on screens.

    The rest of the weekend’s top 10 highest-grossing films included *Masters of the Universe* at $5.6 million, *Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu* at $3.9 million, the debut drama *Leviticus* at $2.7 million, the new release *The Death of Robin Hood* at $2.6 million, and the biographical drama *Michael* at $2.2 million.

  • ‘A masterclass in selfless service’

    ‘A masterclass in selfless service’

    Dame Marie Clemetson, a pioneering Jamaican nursing leader who made history as the first Jamaican Dame of The Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem and former chief nursing superintendent of St John Ambulance Brigade Jamaica, was laid to rest on Saturday following a life defined by decades of selfless service to public health and community welfare.

    A moving thanksgiving service to honor her legacy was held at Kingston’s Holy Cross Church, where Earl Jarrett, chairman of St John Jamaica, delivered a heartfelt tribute on behalf of the organization, framing Dame Marie’s decades of work as a masterclass in unwavering service, steadfast faith, and radical compassion for vulnerable communities.

    Dame Marie’s distinguished global career in healthcare began in England, where she completed her rigorous professional nursing training. When she returned to her home country of Jamaica, she immediately committed her specialized skills to volunteer work, officially joining the St John Ambulance Brigade’s volunteer corps in 1960. Over the following six decades, she climbed the organization’s ranks through consistent dedication and exceptional leadership, eventually rising to the position of chief nursing superintendent. Jarrett noted that Dame Marie led the brigade with a one-of-a-kind balance of disciplined, evidence-based professionalism and gentle, maternal warmth, mentoring hundreds of new volunteers and first responders who carried her lessons forward through their own service.

    Beyond the St John Ambulance Brigade’s core work of emergency response, Dame Marie identified a critical unmet need in Jamaica’s national healthcare ecosystem: structured, compassionate in-home care for elderly, chronically ill, and socially vulnerable Jamaicans who could not access consistent institutional care. To fill this gap, she pioneered the integration of formalized home nursing care and caregiving training into the brigade’s core services, a transformative shift that reshaped community health across Jamaica. Drawing on St John’s established international training protocols, she developed a accessible, practical curriculum that equipped thousands of ordinary Jamaicans with life-saving caregiving skills, permanently embedding St John Ambulance Brigade as a foundational pillar of grassroots healthcare on the island.

    Jarrett also highlighted Dame Marie’s extraordinary skill as a leader who turned big-picture vision into tangible, lasting change, particularly through her groundbreaking resource mobilization work. One of her most notable achievements was successfully negotiating with international humanitarian organization Food For the Poor to secure a cutting-edge, fully equipped ambulance for the brigade. This vehicle became an essential lifeline for underserved communities across Jamaica, and it endures today as a symbol of Dame Marie’s unyielding determination to ensure that limited resources never became a barrier to saving Jamaican lives.

    Dame Marie’s decades of tireless service earned her historic recognition at the local, regional, and international levels. Her inclusive ecumenical spirit and unwavering advocacy for poor and sick communities across the Caribbean caught global attention in 2015, when Pope Francis awarded her a prestigious papal honor — a rare distinction that made her the first Jamaican to receive the accolade, cementing her status as a global leader in humanitarian care. Her 2019 investiture as the first Dame of the Order of St John in Jamaica marked a historic milestone for the national St John organization, highlighting the outsized impact of her work.

    Today, Dame Marie’s legacy stands as a guiding example for the global St John network, which includes more than 160,000 active volunteers serving across 40 countries. “Dame Marie did not just wear the St John cross; she carried its virtues of devotion and charity in her heart every single day,” Jarrett told attendees at the service. “Her legacy lives on in every ambulance that rolls out to save a life, in every home nurse who gently tends to a patient, and in the enduring spirit of volunteerism at St John Jamaica.”

    In the wake of Dame Marie’s passing, St John Jamaica has extended its deepest condolences to her family, friends, and colleagues, and reaffirmed its commitment to honoring her memory by carrying forward the life-saving community health work she built.

  • WATCH: Scores bid farewell to late JLP youth leader, Imru Khouri

    WATCH: Scores bid farewell to late JLP youth leader, Imru Khouri

    On a recent Saturday in St Catherine, Jamaica, a solemn gathering of Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) members packed the Portmore New Testament Church of God to pay their final respects to Imru Khouri, a dedicated young party operative who died earlier this month. Attendees ranged from sitting Cabinet ministers to up-and-coming young party professionals, all united in mourning the loss of a rising figure within the party’s ranks.

    Khouri, who was just 23 years old, held two key roles within the JLP infrastructure: he served as chapter chairman for Young Jamaica, the party’s official youth wing, and also contributed as a sitting member of the JLP’s central communications team. He passed away in early May following a sudden, short bout of illness, cutting short a promising political career that many within the party had watched develop with high hopes.

    After the funeral service concluded, a procession carried Khouri to his final resting place at Dovecot Memorial Park, where he was formally laid to rest. Local journalist Llewellyn Wynter captured video footage of the memorial service for regional news outlets. Members of the party have remembered Khouri as a driven, committed young leader who brought energy and fresh perspective to JLP outreach and communications work in his local community.